Any salad with fruit and nuts in it, I’m sure to love. For this Za’atar Crusted Goat Cheese Salad, I added a tangy goat cheese round on top of a simple salad made with peppery arugula, apples and pecans.

I decided to use Za’atarbecause I had goat cheese with this blend of spices in another meal once before and loved it! And, from my experience using herbs in an Apple Roasted Salad, I knew that adding sweet apples would only make this salad even better!

The Sherry Vinaigrette used to dress this salad is actually more of a hack. Sherry vinegar can be hard to find (impossible to find anywhere near me!) and ordering it online can be expensive. So, I made my own version of a Sherry Vinaigrette using sherry cooking wine, vinegar and olive oil. It turned out really good! If you have sherry vinegar on hand, definitely use it. But, if not, you can use my simple recipe hack instead.

Why This Recipe Works

This is an easy salad recipe to make ahead for week day lunches. Be sure to sprinkle a little lemon juice on the apple slices to prevent them from browning.

The tanginess of the goat cheese pairs perfectly with the herbs in the za’atar seasoning.

Sweet apples and crunchy pecans add flavor and texture to this healthy salad!

How to Make Goat Cheese Salad

Prep!

There is minimal prep work for this recipe which is why it is so great for busy days! You just need to slice the apples thin and cut the log of goat cheese into 4 equal rounds.

Tip: For even 1-ounce goat cheese rounds, cut a 4-ounce log of goat cheese in half, then cut each of those halves into half.

Create!

Spoon the za’atar seasoning out onto a small plate or into a bowl. Firmly press the goat cheese round into the seasoning. Flip and repeat on the opposite side.

Place the arugula into a bowl and top with the seasoned goat cheese, pecans, and apple slices.

To make the Sherry Vinaigrette, whisk the sherry, vinegar and olive oil together in a small bowl.

Tip: if you have sherry vinegar you can just whisk that into the olive oil instead.

Present!

Pour the dressing over the salad and enjoy!

Tips & Techniques for the Best Goat Cheese Salad

For even goat cheese rounds, cut a 4-ounce log of goat cheese in half, then cut each of those halves into half.

If you have sherry vinegar on hand, definitely use it. But, if not, you can use my simple recipe for a substitute instead.

You can make this salad ahead of time, but be sure to sprinkle a little lemon juice on the apple slices to prevent them from browning.

FAQ’s

Which goat cheese is best for salad? For this salad, a solid log of goat cheese like a plain Montchevre, works best.